Flour or meal bin



s. 0. OALLAHAN. FLOUR 0R MEAL BIN (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIMEON O. CALLAHAN, OF JAOKSBOROUGH, TEXAS.

FLOUR OR MEAL BIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,354, dated February 16, 1897. Application filed February 24;, 1896. Serial No. 580,505. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIMEoN O. CALLAHAN, of J acksborough, in the county of Jack and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flour or Meal Bins; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention pertains to flour and meal bins and its object is to provide a device of improved form for holding flour or meal and from which the same may be drawn and sifted in any desired quantity.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described and claimed and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved device. Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical cross-sectional views taken at right angles to each other of the lower portion of the device.

A designates the bin or receptacle, which is secured at its rear side to the hanging strip B,whereby the same may be retained in convenient position. The lower portion of the bin has the tapering contraction C,Which terminates in the neck portion D, adapted to receive sieve-cup E. An eye F is secured to the rear side of the neck D, and a hook G on the corresponding side of the cup engages said eye and serves as a hinge for sustaining the cup when let down from the neck portion. When up in position, the side of the cup opposite the hook is sustained by hook H of neck D engaging eye II of the cup.

The cup E is formed with the outward bulge J, and within the cup is the removable depending screen or sieve K, having the ring K at its top sprung into the said bulge,whereby it is securelyheld in position, but from which it may be removed whenever desired. The rotary agitator L is arranged upon the transverse shaft L for forcing the flour or meal to the sieve. The cap M for the bottom of the cup is hinged upon one side to swing downward,while its other edge or side is sustained when closed by the depending outwardly-depressible spring M. The handle E of the cup is slotted at its lower extremity to form the guide through which the spring M extends.

The conical portion 0 is provided near its lower end with the downwardly and inwardly sloping false bottom 0, which extends about half-way across the interior of said conical portion and serves to contract the dischargeopening at the bottom of the bin, so that the flour and meal will not flow too rapidly to the sieve-cup. At the same time the outline of the conical neck 0 is preserved to properly form at its lower end the vertical circular cup-holding neck D. For controlling this open portion I provide the damper P, which is secured to the transverse shaft Q, provided with handle Q, the contour of the damper or cut-off P being when closed substantially the same as that of the conical portion against which it bears, thus eifectually closing the bin and preventing discharge. It will be noticed that the damper is secured upon the shaft a little outward or away from the lower edge of the false bottom 0, so that a narrow portion P of the damper projects on the side of the shaft toward the said false bottom. By means of this arrangement the meal which is deflected by the false bottom is afiorded a downward passage and is not clogged by the damper, as would be the case were the turning point of the damper directly against the lower edge of the said false bottom.

At the upper end of the contracted portion I arrange the transverse shaft R, having crank-handle R, and fixed upon said shaft are the agitators S. Each agitator is formed of a short piece of wire having one coil or turn about the shaft, thus giving it an effectual hold thereon, and the same are soldered in place, so as to turn with the shaft. The flour or meal may thus be kept loosened at all times and in proper condition for feeding downward to the screen.

The device here shown and described is most convenient for handling flour or meal, as the same may be taken out in any quantity desired, and as the cut-off effectually prevents the escape of the same the cup E may be removed with the desired amount and sifted wherever it is wanted.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a receptacle for Hour and meal, the combination of a bin, the false bottom extended from. one side thereof and sloping downward to a point near the bin C61lbG1,i i16 shaft traversing the bin at a point slightly removed from the lower extremity of the false bottom, and the cut-off when closed bearing in horizontal position against the false bottom and the bin-wall, and having connection with the shaft adjacent one edge whereby the greater part of the cut-off is on the side of the shaft opposite the false bottom while the narrower part closes the space between the shaft and the false bottom, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the bin having the downwardly-tapering bottom portion, the

downwardly and inwardly sloping false bottom extended partially across the discharge thereof, the damper for closing the remainder of the discharge, said damper when closed bearing against the lower end of the false bottom and the tapering wall of the bin opposite the false bottom, and the transverse shaft to which the damper is secured positioned at a point slightly removed from the edge of the false bottom, whereby material guided downward by the false bottom is not obstructed when the damper is open, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SIMEON O. CALLAHAN.

\Vitnesses:

J. N. ROGERS, J. M. HUGHES. 

